Chapter Black Tape Seen Up Close
The Chapter Black tape is an artifact from the Spirit World which is the focal point of the Chapter Black Saga. Originally kept in the deepest bowels of Spirit World's Records Department, it is a compilation lasting for thousands of hours, said to contain the atrocities that humankind had committed over millennia. The tape is so legendary, it is known to demons such as Kurama and Hiei, so much so that the two sought to acquire the item for themselves.[1] According to Koenma, the Chapter Black tape is part of a set which is never meant to be seen alone. [2]
The tape's contents are so horrifying that it can turn humans against their own kind such as the case with Kiyoshi Mitarai, where his thoughts were so warped that he considered himself to be the perpetrator of the atrocities found in the video, and is considered justifying evidence that demons seek to legitimize their cruelty and atrocities against humankind. More severe cases include Dr. Minoru Kamiya, becoming absolutely nihilistic and emotionally unstable to the point of homicidal madness, and Spirit Detective Shinobu Sensui, whose period of moral and ethical disenchantment was soon driven into absolute misanthropy and a desire to end the human race.
It vanished from the Spirit World Records Department vault along with Shinobu Sensui after he ended his tenure as a Spirit World detective ten years before the events of the series.
After the events of the Chapter Black Saga, Hiei acquires the Chapter Black tape: In the anime after Kurama inquires what Hiei will do with the tape, stating that his friend now has legitimate evidence to loathe humanity, Hiei destroys it. [3] In the manga, it is unclear as to what Hiei does to Chapter Black as we only see one panel with Hiei in posession of it. [4]
Hiei with Chapter Black
Trivia[]
- Despite being the namesake of the Saga, the tape itself holds little importance aside from some mentions; the tunnel to Demon World does instead. Nevertheless, it is among one of the bigger catalysts for its events, and its use as evidence against mankind for its genocidal destruction is evocative of end of the world or Judgement Day scenarios; with Sensui's Black Angel moniker evocative of fallen angels such as Satan, Lucifer, or the Devil, and the Sensui Seven evocative of the Seven Deadly Sins, and to bring about Armageddon onto the human race with a war against time, the video is a clear analogy for evil karma and sins the courts of the heavens and the underworld must evaluate and judge as well.
- Sensui is technically the least affected by Chapter Black, as he already saw the depravity of the Black Black Club and snapped, creating his first and most bloodthirsty split personality. In fact, he only used it as justification for his choice; never truly being influenced by the tape.
- It is possible that Chapter Black could have a reverse psychological effect on someone who is already mentally unstable; making them snap and try to be better people, or even just laugh at all the atrocities since they can't feel empathy for.
- Doctor became nihilistic; later becoming altruistic.
- Seaman became self-loathing: later gaining confidence.
- Sniper became indifferent; later deciding to make a difference.
- Only Doctor, Seaman, Sniper and Gourmet of the Sensui Seven were shown the tape; Gatekeeper, Gamemaster and Toguro followed Sensui without it.
- Within the context of Yu Yu Hakusho's themes of the paranormal and the supernatural, the concept of the Chapter Black tape is likely derived from pre-internet era mythos and urban rumors of physical media kept underground from public consumption or is kept adrift in obscurity due to its questionable and shocking content. Considering its more inhumane and evil aspects, the Chapter Black's contents are likely derived from the concepts of recording real life atrocities for the purpose of entertainment, including snuff films and personal mementos of serial criminals.
- Koji Suzuki's novel Ringu from 1991 popularized the trope of cursed videotapes in Japan. Its many live action and manga adaptations were all released after YuYu Hakusho concluded but the book predates the Chapter Black arc by over one year.